Bottle washing machine



May 2, 1933. A. E. LADEWIG ET AL 1,906,974

BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE Original Filed March 30, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l May 2 1933- A. LADEWIG ET AL. 1,906,974

i BOTTLE WASHING?,MCHINEY y Original Filed March 30, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 2, 1933- A. E. LADEWIG El' A1. 1,906,974

BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed March 50 1927 Patented May 2, 1933l ATE'NT Price ARCI-IIE E. LA DEWIG- AND GEORGE F. SOELCH, 0F WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE Original application filed March 30, 1927, Serial February 4, 1929.

The present invention relates in general to improvements in bottle cleansing machinery, and relates more specifically to improvements in the construction and operation of machines for automatically washing andrinsing milk bottles or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple and compact bottle washer wherein thorough cleansing of the bottles is assured, by automatically subjecting the bottles admitted to the machine to several washing and rinsing cycles before final discharge thereof. A further object of the invention is to provide improved mechanism for transporting a series of bottles through a washing machine or the like. These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

The present application is a division of application Serial No. 179,424 filed March 30, 1927, and some of the novel features disclosed but not specically claimed herein, form the subject matter of said application or of another divisional application which is being filed concurrently herewith.

A clear conception of an embodiment of the invention and of the operation of a machine constructed in accordance with the improvement, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. l is a side elevation of an improved milk bottle washing and rinsing machine.

Fig. 2 is a partly assembled front elevation of the improved milk bottle washer, with a portion of the front casing broken away.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top view ofone of the transverse bottle carrier` frames.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of the carrier frame.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken through the rear end of the main casing, showing the details of construction of the carrier adjusting guide or takeup.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view through the mainl casing, also showing details of construction of the carrier adjusting guide.

No. 179,424. Divided and this application illed Serial No. 337,312.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a modified driving mechanism for automatically transporting the admitted bottles through the washing and rinsing cycle, twice before delivering them from the machine.

Referring specifically to Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, the improved milk bottle washing machinecomprises generally a main soaking, washing and rinsing casing 2 resting upon adjustable supports l0 and forming a housingfor an intermittently movable entlless series of bottle carrier pockets 3; and an auxiliary pre-rinsing casing 59 also resting upon supports 10 and associated with the front of the main casing 2, the casing 59 providing a support lfor the bottle supply and discharge mechanisms.

The lower portion of the main casing 2 provides a basin 27 for hot caustic soda or similar solution, and each of the side walls of the casing 2 is provided with an endless series of guide rails comprising lower horizontal rails 9 located below the liquid in the basin 27, upper rails 29, 82 located above the lower rails, an adjustable curved rail 18 connecting the rear ends of each set of lower and upper rails, and a iixed curved rail 28 connecting the front ends of each set of lower and upper rails. The rear end rails 18 are interconnected by cross bars as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and are swingable about lower pivots 68 by means of an adjusting screw 65, being guided near the top by means of pins 66 secured to the casing 2 and cooperating with slots 67 in plates secured to the rails. A plurality of plates 69 extend longitudinally of the machine between and beneath the lower rails 9, and between and rearwardly of the end rails 18, the plates 69 serving to retain the bottles within the inverted pockets 3. The forward portions 82 of the upper rails 29 are inclined for a considerable distance for the purpose of insuring complete drainage of liquid from the bottles prior to delivery thereof from the machine.

The endless series of bottle carrier pocket-s 3 are formed of wire, each pocket comprising a wire ring and a plurality of substantially straight wires extending laterally away from the ring and interconnected to provide a y groups,

Vwith one arm of a bifurcated bottom. A number of the individual pockets 3 are secured to each other as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, to form transverse the ends of the carrier frames 23 being attached to end links 7. The successive links 7 are united by means of pins with which the carrier rollers 8 are rotatably associated. The carrier rollers 8 engage the rail sections 9, 29, 18, 28, and the links 7 together with their pins, form an endless conveyor chain for the'pockets 3. The machine preferably embodies an odd number of groups of pockets 3, there being sixty nine groups or pockets to each endless series in the washer herein disclosed.

Located within the casing 2 above the basin 27 and between the lower and upper rails 9, 29, is a series of reservoirs or basins 14, 15, 16 having spray nozzles 30, 31, 32 of ordinary construction located thereabove and adapted to deliver cleansing liquid into thebottles as they advance along the horizontal portion of the upper rail 29 in inverted position.

A downwardly and rearwardly inclined drainage plate 17 is disposed beneath the inclined rail portion S2 and spans the space between the side walls of the casing 2, see Fig.v 7, the plate 17 serving to return water' from the draining bottles to the basin 16. The nozzles 30, 31 are supplied with suitable washing liquid by means of pumps of well known construction, having their inlets connected with suction casings 11, 63, and removable plates 64 permit inspection of the mechanism within the main casing 2.

The bottle supply mechanism is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and comprises a transverse group of bifurcated receiving pockets 2() movable from upright to horizontal position and vice versa; a tiltable plate 44 movable from inclined to horizontal position and vice versa; and a series of push arms 40 and a. simultaneously operable push bar for ejecting the bottles from the pockets 20 onto the plate 44 and for sliding lother bottles from'the plate 44 into the adjacent pockets 3. The receiving pockets 2() are oscillatable about a horizontal axis by means of a gear segment 50 which meshes with a gear segment 48. The segment 48 is secured to a transverse shaft which is rockable by means of a bell crank 47 one arm of which is pivotally associated with a connection 46 and the other arm of which is likewise associated with a connection 52. The rear end of the connection 46 is pivotally associated bell crank 12 the other arm of which is provided with a roller co-- operating with a groove in the cam 5. The tiltable plate 44 is oscillatable from inclined position to horizontal position in alinement with the pockets 20 and vice versa. The plate 44 is preferably providedwith a series of parrallel fins or plates forming grooves for holding the bottles in proper position.

rI'he lower ends of the push arms 40 are adjustably attached to a cross bar secured to actuating levers .39, and the upper extremities of the push arms are movable through the bifurcations of the pockets 20 and are .1

operatively connected with the push bar.

The bottle discharge mechanism is likewise clearly disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, and comprises a series of bottle ejectors 54 movable through the pockets 3 while they are horizontally disposed; a series of bottle receiving and righting members 21; and a. transversely movable final conveyor 19 of ordinary construction. The ejectors 54 are carried by a transverse rod which is movable along arcuate slots 55 in the sides of the main casing 2, by means of levers 13.

The mechanism for driving the machine consists of an electric motor 4 mounted upon the main casing 2. rlhe motor 4 is connected through a flexible coupling 61, to a constantly rotating counter shaft which is interchangeably connectible by means of a manually operable jaw clutch 22, with high and slow speed gearing 62 of well known construction. The speed change gearing is operatively connected to cranks 60 which cooperate with intermittent grip devices 6 comprising hooks 26 formed to grip and to advance the successive rollers 8 along the rails 28. Motion is also transmitted from the motor 4 through a driving chain 24 to a transverse counter .shaft 33 to which the cams 5, 25 are secured.

While the carrier pocket advancing mechanism of Figs. 1 and 2 is adapted to intermittently advance the pockets a distance equal to the space between the axes of successive rollers 8, the mechanism of Fig. 7 iS constructed to intermittently advance the pockets double this distance in order to cause the bottles to be transported twice through the machine before final discharge thereof. The cranks 83 and the grip devices 84 of this modified mechanism are formed to produce double the vthrow of the pawls or hooks 26, and such operation combined with the use of an odd number of transverse series of pockets 3, produces the desired result of causing the successive transverse series to skip the ejectors 54 during the first transportation. With the machine properly designed, the cranks 83 and devices 84 may readily be substituted for the single throw cranks 6G and devices 6 of the machine disclosed in Fig. 1, at the option of the operator.

During normal operation of the machine, the dirty bottles are placed in the receiving pocket-s 20 when positioned as shown in Fig. 1, in substantially upright position while the motor 4 is operating continuously. After the dirty bottles have been subjected to the prerinse mechanism 80, they are automatically loaded into the pockets 3 preparatory to transportation thereof through the cleansing cycle.

Simultaneously7 with the removal of the pre-rinsed bottles from the loading mechanism to the pockets 3, the ejectors 54 are ejecting other clean bottles from the pockets 3. The intermittent grip device 6 urges the loaded bottles 3, step by step, along the successive rails 28, 9, 18, 29, 82. As the bottles travel through the basin 27, they are subjected to the soaking and washing action of the hot caustic soda solution. IVhil-e travelling along the end rail 18, the bottles are inveited and the caustic soda solution is delivered therefrom into the basin 27. The bottles are subsequently subjected to jets of washing and rinsing liquid delivered from the nozzles 30, 31, 32 during their travel along the iails 29 and over the basins 14, 15, 16. When passing over the inclined rail sections 82, the liquid is effectively drained from the inverted bottles, the drainage liquid returning to the basin 16 along the drain plate 17. The pockets containing the linally washed and rinsed bottles are eventually again brought into horizontal position at the front of the machine, whereupon the ejectors 54 are brought forward through the bottoms of the'pockets 3 and push the clean bottles from the pockets upon the members 21, while these members are positioned as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The members 21 are subsequently swung forward to upright position thereby setting the clean bottles upon the chain conveyor 19 which delivers them from the machine.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the bottles are automatically successively pre-rinsed, washed, finally rinsed, and removed from the machine atthe loading end thereof. By pre-rinsing the dirty bottles, the liquid in the basin 27 may be maintained relatively clean for a long period of time. The pump suction easings 11, 63 and the strainers therein, insure a relatively clean supply of liquid for the nozzles 30, 31, and the inclined rail sections 82 pro* vide for effective removal of water from the ing mechanism associated with the rear rails" 18 enables maintenance of Vproper tension in the carrier chain. The intermittent grip mechanism eliminates j necessity of using noisy sprockets, and the supply and discharge mechanisms operate to avoid breaking bottles.

It should be understood that it is not de sired to limit the invention to the exact details of construction and operation herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent 1. In combination, a casing` having oppositely disposed sets of bottom and top guide rails associated with the opposite side walls thereof, oppositely disposed end rails connecting' said bottom and top guide rails, an endless series o pockets, rollers supporting said pockets for movement in succession along said rails, means cooperating directly with said rollers to move said pockets, and means for adjusting said set oi? end rails about a pivot located adjacent an end of one set of said guide rails to vary the tension of said pocket series.

2. In combination, a casing, bottom and top guide rails associated with said casing, an end rail connecting said guide rails, an endless series of pockets, rollers supporting said pockets, hooks cooperating directly with said rollers for moving said pockets in succes- -sion along said rails, and means for swinging said end rails about a pivot to vary the tension of said pocket series.

3. In combination, a casing, bottom and top guide rails rigidly attached to said casing, `a pivotally supported end rail connecting the corresponding ends of said guide rails, an endless series of pockets, rollers supporting said pockets and coacting with said rails, means cooperating directly with said rollers to move said pockets, and means for swinging said end rails about their mounting pivot to vary the tension of said pocket series.

4. In combination, a casing, bottom and top guide rails rigidly attached to said c asing, al pivotally supported end rail having curved lower and upper portions located in close proximity to the corresponding ends of said bottom and top rails respectively, an endless conveyor having rollers coacting with said rails, a seriesol' pockets movable by said conveyor, means cooperating directly with said rollers to move said conveyor, and means for swinging said end rails about their mounting pivot to vary the tension of said conveyor.

5. In combination, vertically spaced guide rails, an end rail connecting said guide rails, an endless carrier, rollers supporting said carrier upon said rails, means cooperable directly with said rollers to move said cariier along said rails, and means for swinging said end rail about a pivot to vary the `tension of. said carrier.

6. In combination, vertically spaced guide rails interconnected at corresponding ends by a fixed fend rail, a movable end rail interconnecting the other corresponding ends of said guide rails, an endless carrier, rollers supporting said carrier upon said rails, a hook cooperable directly with said rollers to move said carrier along said rails, and means,

for swinging said m-ovable end rails about a pivot to vary the tension of said carrier.

7 In combination, vertically spaced fixed guide rails interconnected at corresponding ends by a fixed curved end rail, a movable end rail interconnecting the other corresponding ends of said guide rails, an endless series of pockets, rollers supporting said pockets upon said rails, a hook movable about the'axis of curvature of said fixed end rail and cooperable directly with said rollers to move said pockets along said rails, and means for swinging said movable end rail about a pivot to vary the tension of said pocket series and to maintain said rollers in proper coaction with said curved end rail.

8. In combination, verticallyT spaced fixed guide rails interconnected at corresponding ends by a fixed end rail, a movable end rail interconnecting the other corresponding ends of said guide rails, an endless series of pockets, a series of rollers supporting said pockets upon said rails, a hook cooperable directly with alternate rollers of said series to move said pockets along said rails, and

means for swinging said movable end rail about/a pivot to vary the tension of said pocket series and to maintain said rollers in proper coaction with said hook.

9. In combination, vertically spaced rails interconnected at their opposite corresponding ends by fixed and movable end rails, an endless carrier, rollers supporting said carrier, means cooperable directly with said rollers to move said carrier, and means for swinging said movable end rail about a pivot to vary the tensionY of said carrier.

10. In combination, oppositely disposed sets of bottom and top guide rails, oppositely disposed end rails connecting said bottom and top rails, an endless carrier, rollers supporting said carrier upon said rail sets, means cooperable directly with said rollers vto move said carrier along said rails, and

means for adjusting said end rails about a pivot located nearer to one of said sets of guide rails than to the other to vary the tension of said carrier.

11. In combination, oppositely disposed sets of xed bottom and top rails interconnected at corresponding ends by fixed oppositely disposed end rails, oppositely disposed movable end rails connecting the other corresponding ends of said bottom and top rails, an endless series of pockets, rollers supporting said pockets Jfor movement along said rails,- means cooperable directly with said rollers to move said pockets, and means for adjusting said movable end rails about f apivot located nearer to one of lsaid fixed rail sets than to the other to vary the tensionl of said pocket series.

12. In combination, oppositely disposed sets of fixed bottom and top rails interconnected at corresponding ends by xed oppositely disposed and similarly c urved end rails, oppositely disposed movable end rails connecting the other corresponding ends of said bottom and top rails, an endless series of pockets, a series of rollers supporting said pockets for movement along said rails, means movable along said vfixed end rails and cooperable directly with alternate rollers of said series to move said pockets along said rails, and means for adjusting said movable end rails about a pivot located near the end of one of said fixed rail sets to vary the tension of said vpocket series and to maintain said rollers in coaction with said curved end rails and said moving means.

13. In combination, vertically spaced guide rails, a curved end rail connecting said guide rails, an endless carrier, rollers supporting said carrier upon said rails, means for moving said rollers along said rails, and means for swinging said end rail about a pivot located adjacent an end of one of said guide rails to vary the tension of said carrier.

14. In combination, vertically v spaced fixed guide rails, a movable curved end rail connecting said fixed guide rails, an endless carrier, rollers supporting said carrier upon said rails, means for moving said rollers along said rails, and means for swinging said end rail abouta pivot located near an end of one of said fixed rails to vary the tension of said carrier.

In testimony whereof, the signatures of the inventors are affixed hereto.

ARCHIE E. LADEWIG. GEORGE F. SOELCI-I. 

